Anything that authenticates, makes visible and validates women’s ministry will help women take their rightful place in the Church says Kate Bell, a theologian and catechist.
She made the comment on Flashes of Insight, a conversation between herself, and fellow theologians, Fiona Dyball, Elizabeth Young and Jo Ayers.
The women discussed the newly approved ministries for women of Lector, Acolyte and Catechist.
“I think it is helpful that Canon Law has been changed and women are formally allowed into ministry.
“It’s got to be helpful that women because of the ‘womenness’ are no longer excluded from ministry.
However, her view is not all ‘clear water’, Bell telling the conversation she has a slight concern that formal recognition of these ministries might alienate the baptised who have been performing them for a long time.
“The people of God, the baptised, might become further disenfranchised from ministry by yet another layer and another process.”
While keen to see the introduction of formal ministries Bell does not want ministry to happen only when it is recognised.
“It’s the job of all of us to be involved,” she said.
Host, Joe Grayland politely suggested Bell was ‘sitting on the fence’.
Continue reading “Ministry clarity or crumbs from the table?”